Vertech to make Scottish road bridge out of recycled plastic

A road bridge in Scotland is to be the first in Europe built out of recycled plastic.

Vertech will build the bridge using recycled structural composite material from Axion International in the United States. The new bridge will replace a steel beam and timber road bridge and will be 12 feet wide and 90 feet long. It should be installed by this October.

Axion President and chief executive Steve Silverman said: “We are pleased to be part of this project in Scotland. As the first bridge span in Europe designed from 100 per cent recycled plastic, Axion is pleased that our purchase order with Vertech could make this bridge a reality.”

Vertech chief executive William Mainwaring said: “The UK has a significant bridging requirement, particularly in rural areas, to meet modern transport needs. Whole life costs, particularly with respect to maintenance, are increasingly important and hence we are very excited to be able to introduce this new unique structural material into the UK market.

“Its environmental credentials, combined with its durability and minimum maintenance requirements, are a distinct advantage over conventional alternatives as well as offering cost effective solutions.”